♝

"WATCH YOUR STEP," GAVRIIL says while holding onto Max's hand tightly as the two walk up a hill. The two lovers went on a so-called date. Gavriil wanted to congratulate Max after hearing about what happened with Cigarettes, so he invited Max to go out, which was something that Max gladly accepted.

     "Are we close?"

     "Just a little more."

     After a couple more steps, the two were welcomed by an amazing view of the city. They were at their spot, the king's horizon.

     "It still takes my breath away, almost like I'm seeing it for the first time," Max says, letting go of Gavriil's hand and getting closer to the edge of the cliff to get a better view of the city.

     "Leigh, be careful," Gavriil warns before walking toward Max and pulling him away from the edge a little so he wouldn't accidentally fall. He then stood beside him, and the two stared at the breathtaking view together.

     "I don't know how many times we've been here when we were younger; all five of us, I mean. We were all just so carefree. We didn't care about a single thing. I'd lie if I say I don't miss those days anymore," Gavriil says, making Max look back at him with a sad smile. He didn't know what Gavriil was talking about because he couldn't remember those memories at all, but at the same time, he knew deep inside him that he feels the same longing as he does. Everything felt like a pleasant dream for him.

     "Leigh, do you remember the time you found out about Grey's death?" Gavriil suddenly asks, surprising Max even though he knew that it was a topic that they had to discuss sooner or later.

     "I do," Max answers after a long pause. "My memory has always been hazy, but that...I remember. I saw the news about his accident, which was the worst place to find something out. I remember that the first person who called me was my father. He told me that Matthew Grey Cullen died, but at that time, I didn't understand why he'd tell me. For me, Grey was just someone I knew, just another unfortunate heir. In his last dying breath...I didn't know who he really was. I didn't even know how much he meant to me."

     Gavriil stares at Max and grabs his hand to squeeze it tightly. He didn't say anything, but his warmth was enough to comfort Max.

     "The news of his death didn't shock me so much, but when I went to bed I couldn't stop crying. I didn't know why but my tears wouldn't stop. I was just so sad. The next day the old man told me to attend the funeral as a Sinclaire representative. That was the last time I saw Grey," Max explains.

     "I'm glad," Gavriil then says, making Max look back at him with furrowed brows.

     "What do you mean by that?" Max asks him.

     Gavriil takes a deep breath and squeezes Max's hand again before answering, "It was selfish of us, but none of us went to Grey's funeral. I didn't have the courage to face him, Viktor wasn't allowed to go, and Cindy didn't want to believe that he died. I'm glad because at least you went."

     Max was surprised that none of them went to Grey's funeral, but for some reason, he understood them.

     "I think if I didn't lose my memory, I might have done the same," Max casually says before taking a deep breath and closing his eyes as he felt the breeze touch his skin. "If you didn't tell me about our past back then, I wouldn't have known anything. Now that I know who Grey really was to me, I feel relieved. Even though I forgot about him before, I'm glad that I'm remembering him now like this."

     Gavriil agreed, but then Max opened his eyes when he remembered a dream he had right after visiting the House of Queens.

     "Oh yeah, I remembered something," Max says, making Gavriil look back at him. "When I fell asleep at the car after my visit from the House of Queens, I had a dream that was more like a memory."

     "What was it?" Gavriil asks, hoping it was something important.

     "We were all here, all five of us. I don't know when it actually was, but we were having a picnic at this very spot. Cindy brought tea and cake, and Grey brought booze. You and Viktor were even wrestling on the ground," Max explains, and Gavriil couldn't help but laugh.

     "I don't know when that would be since it sounds like it's something we do every time we visit this place," Gavriil says, but Max shakes his head and explains further, "No, there was something else. We made a promise with each other during that time."

     "And what promise could that be?"

     Max pauses and looks back at the horizon before looking back at Gavriil. "A promise that we'd meet each other in J.S High."

     The smile on Gavriil's face instantly disappears right after hearing what Max had just said. He remembered what Max was talking about. Everything that happened that night, he remembered it all.

     "During that time Grey told us that uncle Janus invited his brother to attend J.S High, so he wanted to go too. Then you agreed to join him, and then Viktor and Cindy. We told each other that we were going to J.S High and meet each other there," Max explains, and Gavriil lets go of his hand and suddenly sat on the log that was on the floor.

     "I know exactly what you're talking about Leigh. I remember that day like it was yesterday," Gavriil replied, and the look on his face made Max worry.

     "Wait, Gav...did something happen that night? Was there a reason why I suddenly remembered that specific memory?" Max asks, making Gavriil look away. Max wanted to force Gavriil to give him an answer, but with the way he reacted, Max instantly knew. He knew exactly what happened.

     "It's the last time we saw each other, didn't we?" Max assumes, but Gavriil's silence just confirmed it for him.

     Max takes a deep breath and massages his temple before sitting beside Gavriil. The two didn't say anything and just looked at the view in front of them. That memory was the last time they were together, yet it was the clearest memory that Max remembered.

     It seems that there's a part of him that's still holding on to that very promise they made.

     A promise that they were all going to meet in J.S High.

     "Though I desperately want to know why we didn't meet with each other anymore, a part of me is afraid to know the truth. Marcus told me before that I was the one who desperately wanted to forget, but why? What did I want to erase so badly?" Max confusingly asks before leaning his head on Gavriil's shoulder.

     "Have you been worrying about that all this time?" Gavriil asks, leaning his head on Max's.

     "The more I involve myself with the brotherhoods, the more I learn about myself. There's something about J.S High that's forcing me to look back at my past. Like what you told me before, the reason why I'm here is because of that very reason, but to tell you the truth, I'm hesitating now, and that's the last thing that I want." Max explains.

     Gavriil couldn't say anything, but as the wind blows hard on them, Max asks, "What shall I do Gav? Should I continue to look for my past, or should I stop at my present? Should I continue this, or should I stop now before it's too late?"

     The question sounded so easy, but for Gavriil, it was the hardest question he's ever heard. This isn't only about Max conquering the brotherhoods anymore. This isn't about making a name for himself without the help of his family name or putting J.S High on the map. This is more than that now, and if Max continues, he'll lose more than he'll gain.

     A part of Gavriil wants what's best for him, but another part of him wants to protect him, even from his past that's clearly still hurting him.

     "Leigh," Gavriil calls out, making Max look back at him.

     After thinking carefully about it, Gavriil takes a deep breath and kisses Max's forehead before telling him, "Whatever you decide on, I'll be here. Whether it's the past, the present, or the future, I'll be there for you. No matter what happens, I'll stand by you like I have always been. Remember that."

     Max stares into Gavriil's eyes and moves close to him to give him a peck on his lips. "I'll remember," he then whispers to him.

     Gavriil leans closer and was about to kiss him back, but then someone coughs behind them, instantly making the two look back to see who the intruder was.

     "Am I interrupting something here?" The guest asks, and the moment they saw who it was, Max and Gavriil immediately stood up from the log that they were sitting on so they could greet her.

     "You did, but if it's you, that's fine. How are you, Cindy?" Gavriil asks, and Cindy smiles before walking towards the two, grabbing both of them for a tight embrace.

     "You guys are really here. When I asked Marcus, I thought I heard him wrong, but I guess I'm not the only one who's still holding onto this place," Cindy tells them before letting go. Before Max could even tease Cindy about how she and his brother are now basically a thing, Max asks instead, "I'm really glad to see you here Cindy, but why did you suddenly visit? What are you doing here?"

     Cindy takes a step back and walks towards the edge to look at the view before looking back at Max. "I didn't want to interrupt your date, but I'm glad you guys are here. Now I can do my task in such a spectacular view."

     "Task?" Max asks with furrowed brows.

     Cindy nods her head as an answer before walking in front of Max so she could properly face him. "It's a bit late, but I was able to attend the ongoing trial regarding Serenity just this morning. Though I'm not happy about how it's going, River wanted to inform you that he's thankful for what you've done for him and for this sister."

     Max was surprised because he wasn't expecting to hear something like that from someone like Cindy, but he smiles and nods his head as a reply anyway. "Is that so? Thank you so much for telling me, but you should have just—"

     Max was cut off when Cindy suddenly went down on one knee. It was a sight that surprised even Gavriil.

     "Cindy, what are you doing? Stand," Max tries to say, but Cindy insisted on bowing.

     "I'm facing you now as Hellcat, the leader of rank 1 sisterhood, Vixens. For what you have done to our previous queen, I am indebted to you, Maximilian Leigh Sinclaire. I know I can't give you my crown brooch like the others have, but know that if you need anything from us, we will give you our assistance. That's a promise."

     Max's eyes were wide from shock. He then looked at Gavriil to see if he knows anything about this, but with his reaction, it seems like it was much of a surprise for him too.

    Cindy Lin...no...Hellcat, was bowing to him. A queen was bowing to him. Max didn't need to be in the Great Hall with everyone as a witness to understand how much of a big deal this is. The fact that she even went her way to look for him just to do this already says a lot.

     "Please stand," Max insists for the second time, and finally, Cindy stood up like she was told.

     "Cindy, I honestly don't know what to say. I don't think I've done enough for you to even go down on your knee for me, but I don't want to dishonor you for doing all this, so as a proper reply..." Max pauses and takes a step back, and then, he touches his chest and bows in front of Cindy too. "If you are willing to assist me in my endeavors, then I will be honored to accept it. Thank you for giving me your trust, my queen." Max says, and this time, it was Cindy's turn to be surprised.

     When Max stood properly to look back at Cindy, he saw a hand reaching out for him instead, and in that hand was a golden crown brooch.

     "W-What are you doing? I thought you're not supposed to give me your crown brooch?" Max asks in confusion.

     "No, look closely," Cindy replies, and Max leans closer to look at the brooch again like what Cindy said. After getting a better look, Max's eyes widened from shock. It really wasn't Vixen's crown brooch like Max thought. It was...

     "Crazy 8," Max says, and Cindy smiles and walks closer to Max to pin the brooch on his collar even though he wasn't wearing his white uniform anymore.

     "This was actually my other task. River was still a bit busy, so he asked if it was alright for me to hand you this. He also told me that a total of 1500 merit points have been transferred to your account. He hopes it will be enough payment for everything you've done for him and for his brotherhood," Cindy explains, patting Max's shoulder after finally putting the crown brooch.

     Max couldn't help but contain his emotions as he looks at the brooch. "T-That's more than enough. Thank you."

     "I'm not really the person you should be thanking, but don't worry, I'll send him the message," Cindy replies.

     "What a very Crazy 8 thing to do. No fancy ceremonies or even catching public attention. Just something...secretive...like this," Gavriil says, walking towards Max and reaching out to touch the brooch. "Congratulations Leigh. You finally conquered the marquis. Now you're ready to move forward."

     Cindy nods her head to agree to it, but then Max grabs both of Cindy and Gavriil, draping his arms around their shoulder as the three looked back at the horizon in front of them. Just in time, the sun was finally setting. The three childhood friends watched in silence, remembering the time there were more of them standing at this very spot.

     "I missed this," Cindy says without looking back at the others. "I miss the others."

     "Are you saying you miss being with Viktor too? I knew it you had a little crush on him when we were growing up," Max then teases, making the two laugh.

     "Oh please, I was more in love with your brother to be able to even look at others in a different way," Cindy suddenly blurts out, making Max and Gavriil practically gag while Cindy continued laughing, glad that she was able to make her friends react like that.

     "Well, all jokes aside I do miss our little Vi. I miss how he's just carefree yet he cared for all of us. I miss how he looked like he doesn't care but give him a single call and he'll be there in an instant. I miss him...I miss us; all of us. If I were to wish for something, I want all four of us at least to be together again, here, at this very spot. Grey would have liked that," Cindy explains, a tear suddenly falling from her eyes.

    Gavriil immediately took out his handkerchief and reaches out to wipe Cindy's tears for her. "Why don't you shout your wish here, like what we always did?" Gavriil then asks right after drying Cindy's cheeks.

     "Come on, we're not kids anymore," Cindy replies.

     "Gav and I did it," Max then reveals, surprising Cindy.

     "Oh...W-Well, if that's the case then—" Cindy pauses and clears her throat. Before saying anything, she looks back at Max and Gavriil first. The two looked at her with encouraging eyes, so Cindy takes a deep breath and finally shouts...

     "I want Viktor to stop acting like a jerk so he could find his way back to us!" Cindy shouts at the top of her lungs, the veins on her neck showing as she shouted it. She then started crying even more like she poured all her emotions into that single statement. Gavriil pats her head while Max pulls her closer to his arms. The three friends looked back at the horizon in front of them, not saying a single thing.

     The cold wind blows against them for the last time, and for a quick second, they felt Grey's presence. Almost like he was there.

     Almost like he never really left. 

...

Max went inside his bedroom with a loud sigh. After his time with Gavriil and Cindy, Max went back home with a lighter heart. Having his childhood friends with him made him feel relieved. All his doubts vanished as soon as he met up with them, which was something Max was surprised about. 

     He realized that he didn't have to run away from his past. He didn't have to be so unsure; he wasn't alone anymore. He has his childhood friends Gavriil and Cindy, his best friends Ari, Felix, and Ervin, and his protectors: Jokers, Cigarettes, BND, and now...

     "Crazy 8," Max says as he walks towards a mirror to look at the brooch on his collar. He smiles at the sight of it before removing it so he could put it in a red case where all his other brooches are. 

     Afterward, he pulls out the necklace that's hidden underneath his shirt. Max has been wearing the Lemieux necklace for a while now, but after finding out about his past from his father, about how his mother, Luna, committed suicide, and how she might have forced Max to join her, Max started hiding the necklace again.

     Max has loved his mother, yet everyone around him tells him she was a monster, which was something Max never really understood.

     Was everything that he know about her...a lie?

     "I should take a bath," Max says instead before removing the necklace and putting it back inside its case. Max then removed his shirt, but before he could walk to the bathroom, he noticed an envelope on top of his side table.

     It was the envelope that Sky gave him.

     It was his Confession no. 4.

     Max approaches the table and takes the envelope before scanning it. Sky told him that he should only open it when he's ready, so Max was hesitant to open it even though he had all the chances to do so. But after his conversation with Gavriil and Cindy, he felt like he was ready. He had to open this envelope and read what was inside it sooner or later.

     "Whatever you decide on, I'll be here. Whether it's the past, the present, or the future, I'll be there for you. No matter what happens, I'll stand by you like I have always been. Remember that." Max remembers Gavriil telling him at the King's Horizon.

     Max takes a deep breath and composes his thoughts for the last time. After a few more minutes of contemplation, Max finally opens the envelope. He wasn't expecting much, considering how he was confident that Siren wouldn't be able to know something so serious about him.

      Ever since he found out about Siren's capabilities to reveal secrets, Max was the least scared. He was confident that Siren wouldn't have anything against him. He was confident that there was nothing about his past that would shock him anymore.

     But as soon as Max read the confession, he instantly knew that he was dead wrong.

     He should have never...

     Ever...

     Underestimated...

     The Master of Secrets.

     Confession No. 4: I am the brightest moon, surrounded by dying stars. I had the whole world under my feet, but then, when I discovered that there was a small chance that my sun was going to lose his light, I had to show them darkness. I had to make the stars explode. I had to make sure that Victory wasn't theirs. 

     Who do you think I am?

- END OF VOLUME IV -